Electric switch



1932- J. M. CLEVELAND 1,891,799

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 15, 1932 an, wag mg INVENTOR,

ATTQRNEYG.

A I JWWM ,5

Patented Dec. 20, 1932 6 UNITED STATES JOHN CLEVELAND, OF KANSAS CITY, EISSOURI ELECTRIC swrron Application filed August 15, 1932. Serial No. 628,792.

This invention relates to electric switches of the selective rotor type and has for its primary object the provision of such an electrical device that may be used to electrically interconnect a number of appliances, fixtures, lights or the like, some of which it is desired to place in operation with others through the use of a singleselective switch having means to control the supply of electrical energy to an or all of said appliances.

ne of the objects of the instant invention i the contemplation of a unique switch wherein is-embodied a specially formed rotor, which rotor may be moved to predetermined positions with respect to a number of fixed or stationary contact fingers, which maintain the rotor against further movement in one direction as a number of movable contact arms are of their complete circuit one of the stationary contact fingers aforementioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for actuating the rotor, which means permits of an uninterrupted flow of electrical energy toa number of'contact arms forming a part thereof, whereby continued rotation and successive making and breaking of the many circuits involved might be accomplished without resetting or adjusting the switch in any manner.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an exceptionally eflicient switch of the character just set down which has contacts that are movable to and from the circuit closing position in an abrupt manner that precludes arcing or similar dangerous action.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawmg,

wherein: P

' Figure 1 is a face view of an electric switch embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is an irregular cross-section through the same. i

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the face late removed.

Fig. 4 1s a vertical, central section through "the switch, taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is arear elevation of the switch, and,

adjusted to complete circuits to a selected few of the electrical devices having as a part Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the same taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

In building a switch embodying this invention, a housing 8 of suitable insulating material is formed, one side of which is covered by a face plate 10 of insulating material that is secured in position by screws or analogous means 12. Within housing 8 and at the bottom thereof, there is disposed a plurahty of stationary contact fingers 14, each of which is substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2, with one leg thereof much longer than the other. Each contact finger 14 is jolned by screw terminal 16 that passes through the bottom of housing 8, as shown in Fi s. 2 and 5.

rotor 18 of exceptionally peculiar shape is rotatably mounted within housing 8 as illustrated, through the medium of a shaft 20, disposed on the axial center of the rotor. This rotor has a ratchet formed on each opposite face thereof, the teeth 22 of which form laterally projecting shoulders for the purpose hereinafter set down. At the shoulder of each ratchet tooth 22 there is formed an inwardly extending notch 24, into which is positioned a U-shaped contact leaf 26, so that one arm is disposed on one side of rotor 18 while the other arm thereof is disposed near the opposite side thereof. Both arms of contact leaves 26 are spaced slightly away from the sides of rotor 18 and one arm travels in an annular path described by the many stationary contact fingers 14. Obviously, as rotor 18 is rotated, contact leaf 26 and fingers 14 will successively engage.

When rotor 18 is positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the resiliency of fingers 14 will cause the same to lie beneath shoulder 24 of ratchet teeth 22 so that rotation on the part of rotor 18 in one direction is precluded. The height of ratchet teeth 22 insures that when fingers 14 are moved from leaves 26 there is an abrupt breaking of the circuit.

The means for rotating rotor 18 includes the knob 28 which is carried upon shaft 20' exteriorly of housing 8. Rotor 18 is not secured to shaft 20 so that the only manner of revolving rotor 18 thereabout is through the medium of the parts hereinafter mentioned.

Knob 28 has an extended boss 30, to which is secured, through set screw 32, the collar 34, upon which is rigidly mounted a pair of diametrically opposed contact arms 36, each of which lies against one of the arms of the adjoining contact leaf 26, as shown in Fig. 2.

Contact arms 36 are resilient and spring beneath shoulders 24 whereby rotor 18 may be moved about shaft 20 in one direction. Collar 34 is of insulating material, as is knob 28, and a metalic ring 38 is mounted upon collar 34 and electrically connected to contact arms 36 by strips 40, shown in Fig. 3. Ring 38 is wipingly engaged by a contacting spring 42, to which is connected one side of the circuit through the medium of wire 44 and terminal screw 46. Obviously, there is always two circuits com leted when there are two contact arms 36 or they each engage a leaf 26, which in turn are positioned against contact fingers 14 that are connected to one side of the circuit through a connection made with terminal 16. Moving knob 28 continuously in one direction will simply move rotor 18, but if knob 28 is moved in the other direction, another set of circuits will be closed and a predetermined desirable result obtained by supplying electrical energy to two of a predetermined number of electrical appliances or the like.

An auxiliary means for actuating rotor 18 may be supplied in the form of a pinion and rack structure, shown clearly in Fig. 3. Arcuate rack 48 engages pinion 50, which in turn is secured to a portion of knob 28, and by virtue of the fact that rack 48 is pivoted to cover 10 as at 52, movement of the rack about this center will cause pinion 50 to rotate in the direction of movement of rack 48. An outwardly extending finger 54 projects through arcuate slot 56 so that actua-' tion of the switch might be accomplished through either engagement with knob 28 or finger 54.

The use of a rotor having a number of contact leaves in association with a number of stationary contact fingers and in further association with contact arms 36 has proven exceptionally unique in making and breaking a predetermined number of circuits in a desired combination. This'switch is durable, not likely to get out of order, and embodies in an exceptionally small structure a control for a number of electrical circuits which is highly eflicient and desirable. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. In an electric switch, a housing; a plurality of stationary contact fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor; and means to rotate said rotor, said means having a number of contact arms each againstone of said contact leaves.

2. In an electric switch, a housing; a plu! rality of stationary contact fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor; ratchet teeth formed on each side respectively of the rotor; and means to rotate said rotor, said means including a number of contact leaves movable to engagement with the ratchet teeth on one side of said rotor whereby to move the rotor about its axial center. i

3. In an electric switch, a housing; a plurality of stationary contact fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor; means to rotate said rotor; and a contact arm in engagement with one of the contact leaves of the rotor as rotation of both rotor and rotating means in one direction takes place.

4. In an electric switch, a housing; a plurality of stationary contact-fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor; means to rotate said rotor; and a contact arm in engagement with one of the contact leaves of the rotor as rotation of both rotor and rotating means in one direction takes place, said rotor having a series of shoulders each in engagement with a stationary contact finger to preclude rotation of the rotor in the opposite direction as the rotating means is so moved.

5. In an electric switch, a housing; a plurality of stationary contact fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor; and'means to rotate said rotor in one direction including a pinion, an arcuate rack in engagement with the pinion and means extending exteriorly of the housing for actuating said rack and pinion to rotate the rotor about the axial center.

6. In an electric switch, a housing; a plurality of stationary contact fingers carried by the housing; a rotor within the housing adjacent all of said fingers; a contact leaf bearing against each finger respectively and carried by said rotor and means to rotate said rotor in one direction including a pinion, an arcuate rack in engagement with the pinion and means extending exteriorly of the housing for actuating said rack and pinion to' rotate the rotor about the axial center, said rack having a mutilated portion for the reception of said pinion when rack and pinion are disengaged.

7. In. an electric'switch of the character described, a rotor; a plurality of notches formed inwardly from the annular ed e of said rotor; and a U-shaped contact leaf tted into each notch respectively and extending along a portion of each side of said rotor.

8. In an electric switch of the character described, a rotor; a ratchet face formed on each side of said rotor; a notch formed inwardly from the annular edge of said rotor at each ratchet tooth; and a U-shaped contact leaf fitted into each notch respectively and extending along above the inclined face 7 of the ratchet on each side of the said rotor.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN M. CLEVELAND. 

